Osmeett block fok six



J. S MCMILLAN.

CEMENT BLOCK FOR SILOS,

APPLICATION FILED IULY I3. 1914 Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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Application filed July 13, lell. Serial No. asavsv.

To all "HI/M9772, it may'conccm: A I

Be it known'that I, JosErH MCMILLAN, citizen of the United States-residing at Republic, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Cement Blocks for Silos, of which the following-is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in -o constructions, and as its principalebjec ms to provide a novel form of building block which-is especially adapted for't'h'e construction of silos.

A further and'l'nore specific object of lilyinvention is to provide a building block which is formed preferably of concrete and is' longitudinally curved, being equipped with longitudinally extending reinforcing rods, the terminals of which carry integral eyelets adapted to project beyond the terminals of the block and to mate with. the eyelets of the reinforcing rods of the next adjacent block so that-a boltor similar fasterial is'tamped for the obvious purpose of supplementing the action of the connecting bolts in securely fastening the terminals of the various blcchs to each other.

The above ted and other incidental. ob jects cf a slim" tr nature are accomplished by such means as are illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, described in the fol- 4E5 lowing specification and than more partied. larly pointed out in the claims, which are peljlded hereto and form a part cf this ap .tion. g .ith reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views hf 'which similar reference InH d gnate corresponding parts. Figure 1 is. a side elevatlon of'a partially constructed silo, illustrating particularly the manner in which the block is designed to be arranged in-ring-like sections; Fig. 2 is a detailperspective' view of a single silo section .con-* structed ofa number of my building blocks. In this figure, the abuttingterminals of two adjacent blocks are broken awayto; more I clearly dlsclosethe manner in which the ter:

minal eyelets of the trussrodsare connect ed; Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the preferred form of block. 1

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the-accompanying drawings, the silo, des- I ignated as an entirety by the numeral 10, is constructed from a number of ring-like sectrons 11.

Each sectionis, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, constructed from a. plurality of v building blocks, vone of which is illustrated in detail inFig. Upon reference to these last-mentioned. figures, it will be seen that the blocks, which are preferably constructed of concrete, are longitudinally curved so that they may constitute a portion of a circular section, as shown in Fig. 2. At each terminal of the block, there is formed a vertically extending channel Or groove 12. These-, grooves 12 are substantially V-shaped or trough-like in formation, so that-thewtwo grooves or channels, at the abutting terminals of the various blocks, will mate to form a'square passage, as 1n Fig. 2. Thepure;

pose for which th1s square passage is provided will be hereinafter more fully explained in that portion of the specification devoted to a description of the assembling of the blocks during the construction of the silo.

rods are preferably folmed' from wrought iron or steel, although, if desired, theylm'ay In each block member there is embedded a pair of trussrods 13 and 14. Th'esetruss be made from strap iron, steel or any other;

suitable metal.

The truss rods are longltudinally curved tocorrespond to the curva'-. I

ture of the blocks and are terminally provided with integrally formed eyelets 15. The'rods are of such length that the eyelets will project slightly beyond the channels 12. In the approximate.centerofvthe ip-1 per face of each block there is fomned,uas

indicated'at man opening or bore, the pura pose of which will be hereinafter. more 7 fully explained. v

tainers. provuled a relatively simple and nevertheof the blocks.

From theforegoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction of the building blocks will be readily appreciatedf It, therefore,

remains to explain the manner iii-which the blocks are laid when the, silo is being constructed. e

Upon a suitable foundation, the first section is mounted. This firstsection COIjSlStS, V

the squared channels defined by the troughs 12 so that the rods or bolts 16 will be held against shifting and the terminals of the blocks will be more firmly united. In this connection, it is also to be observed that the tamping of mortar into the squared openings between the block terminals Provides, in effect, a seal which will prevent the entrance of water into the silo and will also guard against escape of ensilage between the blocks. After the first section has been laid l on the foundation, the next section is laid in the same manner, a layer of mortar being first applied to the upper surface ofthe first section. The blocks of each succeeding section are arranged so that the joint-between them will be staggered with respect to the joints of the blocks of the adjacent sections, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The purpose in thus staggering the blocks of each sue ceeding section with respect to the blocks immediately below will now be apparent, particularly upon reference to Fig. 1, in

which it will be seen that. each rod or bolt member 16 is of such length that its lower terminal extends down into the opening or bore Obviously the lower terminals of the rods 16 being engaged in the bores a serve to prevent the shifting ofthey blocks upon each other., i

In molding the blocks, the pallet is preferably so formed that the upper and lower faces of the blocks will berelatively rough so that the mortar or other binding agent will firmly grip the surface.

It will now be seen that I have provided an extremely simple form of. building block which is adapted especially for use in constructing silos or similar. cylindrical con- It will also besecu that I have l'st jtillvlelll form of fastening device for lateral projecti V ous points throughout their length as a means for holding the rods against shifting} connecting the abutting terminals of the individual blocks. It will also be noted that the truss rods constitute not only the fasteners but also serve as reinforcing elements for the block, for the truss rods being ter minally connected to each other by the members 16 form in effect circumferential bands which will add materially to the ability of the silo to withstand internal and external strainsi It is to be observed that my invention contemplates the employment of longitudinally twisted rods in lieu of the rods shown in the drawings. Und some circumstances it may be desirable to provide the rods with or protuberances at varilongitudinally of the block.

In conclusion, I desire to emphasize the fact that while I have designed my build ng blocks particularly for use in construe ing silos, they are equally eflicient in constructing tanks for the reception of oil, grain, ice

or water. 3

Having thus described the inventiomiwhat is claimed as new is: I I

- 1. A silo including a plurality of ai'fcuato blocks laid in superposed courses and arranged to break joint, the blocks of each course having flat top and bottom facesand vertical substantially V-shaped r cesses formed in the opposite ends thereofandcxtending the entire height of the blocks, each block being provided intermediate its ends with a vertically disposed recess opiening through the fiat top face of theblocl; and spaced from the bottom flat face thereof, horizontal truss members arranged withir the blocks and provided with terminal eyes projecting within the V-shaped recesses, and

a plurality of relatively short vertical lock-- mg rods connecting the eyes of the truss members of theblocks of each course and rranged in staggered relation with the low r extremities of the rods of each course aboic 'the bottom course extending within and housed by the recesses of the blocks of an adjacent course.

2. A silo including superposed courses, each formed of a plurality of arcuate blocks having fiat top and bottom faces and vertical substantially V-shaped recesses formed in the opposite ends' thereofand extending the entire height of the blocks, the blocks of each 1; 7 course being each provided intermediate its ends and near its outer convex sidc face with a vertically disposed recess opening through the fiat top face of the blocks and spaced from the bottom flat face thereof. spaced horizontal truss mem'bers arranged within each block on one side of the longitudinal center thereof and provided with terminal eyes projecting within and housed by the V-sliaped recesses, and a plurality of relatively short vertical locking reds connecting the eyes of the truss members of the blocks of each course and arranged in staggered relation with the lower extremities of the rods of each course above the bottom course extending" Within and housed by the recesses of the blocks of an adjacent course.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of two Witnesses,

JOSEPH S. MGMILLAN. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

C. N. OBRYANT, WALTER A. CooN. 

